Tuesday is primary day in North Carolina. 11 Republican candidates are seeking the nomination to take on controversial and sometimes Blue Dog Democrat Heath Shuler. One of the candidates is an outspoken "libertarian Republican."
He's also an Ophthalmologist like a similar libertarian Republican running for US Senate close by in Kentucky. From his bio:
Dr. Dan graduated from the Yale School of Medicine Cum Laude and moved on to serve as a commissioned Naval officer during the Vietnam era. Dr. Dan has since led a medical career involving practice in Florida and New York, 26 years of guest lecturing, 12 years of professional research, 14 peer-reviewed publications, and six medical patents. Currently, Dr. Dan practices in his own small business which he has run successfully for 23 years. Also, Dr. Dan is a founding member of the Cherokee County 9/12 Project and is active in grassroots politics across the 11th District.
Dr. Dan Eichenbuam was recently interviewed by Carolina Politics Online, a conservative site. He explained how his libertarian views could attract conservative support. From the interview:
16. You are running as a libertarian Republican, and you’ve given money to libertarian candidates. Some Republicans are uncomfortable supporting you and some of your positions. Do you consider yourself a conservative or a libertarian? What do you say to those Republican voters who may be afraid of your libertarian beliefs?
I consider myself to be a constitutionally based, principled Republican and have been endorsed nationally by the Republican Liberty Caucus, as well as the Independence Caucus. As a dues-paying member of the Libertarian Party for only a few years (about 6), my contributions to the party were for ballot access initiatives and not to elect candidates.
For most of my adult life, I have been a conservative who believes in limited government, sound money, and the free market as espoused by von Mises and the Austrian school. Like Jefferson, I am passionate about individual freedom, which is derived from a person’s right to own property that cannot be arbitrarily confiscated by the state. I am proud of my strong and uncompromising belief in liberty, in the same spirit as Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan. Little “L” libertarianism and conservatism go hand in hand with the fundamental beliefs of the Republican Party. In speaking at events all around our district since last September, my knowledge of the issues as well as my plan and platform has been widely accepted and approved. In a district where Independents nearly equal registered Republicans, my firm commitment to these principles will make me the most effective challenger to Heath Shuler and will be the key to victory for our party in November.